Kerala introduces self-attestation of documents

The Kerala government on Wednesday introduced self-attestation of copies of certificates for all government applications.

Speaking to reporters after the weekly cabinet here, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said this decision was taken upon recommendation of the state-appointed Administrative Reforms Committee.

The decision comes into effect from Wednesday and the general public can now submit self-attested copies of certificates at the time of making applications, said Chandy.

Hitherto, the general public was required to submit gazetted-officer-attested copies of the necessary documents when making applications for various government services.

Earlier last week, the state government laid the guidelines to the Right to Services Act which stipulate the time limit within which the certificates (mostly issued by the revenue department and the motor vehicles department) should be issued to applicants.

If the applicant fails to get the certificates within the stipulated time limit, he/she can go in for an appeal to the appellate authority.